Jon
Jones has pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor charges
stemming from an encounter with a drug-testing agent at his
Albuquerque, New Mexico, home earlier this year.
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During a virtual hearing in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court on
Wednesday, Jones pleaded not guilty to a petty misdemeanor for
assault and a misdemeanor for interference with communications.
Jones was in attendance with attorney Christopher Dodd, while Judge
Brittany Maldonado was in charge of the hearing.
A date for a bench trial is still yet to be determined. The
conditions for Jones’ release until said date are as follows: Jones
is not allowed to possess any firearms or dangerous weapons, he’s
not allowed to possess or consume any alcohol or illegal drugs, he
has to notify the court if his address changes and he has to
maintain contact with his attorney. Additionally, Jones must avoid
contact with the alleged victims in the case.
If Jones is convicted on both charges, he could face less than a
year in jail and fines totaling $1,500. MMAFighting.com was first to report the
news.
The case stems from an
incident between Jones and agents from Drug Free Sport
International (DFSI), the UFC’s new anti-doping partner. According
to a police report, the drug-testing agent, who was identified as
Crystal Martinez, entered Jones’ home on March 30 to collect a
sample as part of the UFC’s anti-doping program. Martinez alleged
that Jones was cooperative at first but became agitated when he was
unable to initially provide a urine sample. When Martinez suggested
taking a blood sample instead, Jones threatened to sue, took her
phone and began recording Martinez and her co-worker. According to
the report, Jones then put the phone in his pocket and got in
Martinez’s face.
Martinez told police she was “terrified” but elected to continue
with the drug-testing process because she didn’t want to further
anger Jones due to potential penalties from the UFC. Jones was
eventually able to provide a urine sample, and Martinez obtained
her phone during that period. Martinez texted her boss, who was
identified as Pierson Laughlin, regarding her concerns but was
unwilling to talk to Laughlin because she was afraid Jones “would
attack her if he saw her on the phone.”
Jones, meanwhile, responded with a statement of his own where he
denied threatening the agents and said that the encounter ended
“friendly and amicably.” Jones
admitted to police in statement that he was “bothered” by the
arrival of the agents and did use profanity during the sample
collection process. However, he reiterated that he never threatened
anyone during the incident.
Jones, who is recovering from a torn pectoral suffered last year,
is expected to defend his heavyweight title against Stipe
Miocic later this year, likely at a UFC pay-per-view in New
York this November. The UFC ended a partnership with former
anti-doping partner USADA last year, continuing its program with
new anti-doping partner DFSI at the beginning of 2024.